Image forming apparatus for processing according to separation sheet

ABSTRACT

An image forming apparatus including scanner section for reading an image of documents and an image of a separation sheet, a circuit for recognizing the image of the separation sheet from the image of the documents, a determining circuit for determining a processing for the image of the documents based on the image of the separation sheet, an operation panel for receiving a processing instruction for the image of the documents, and a processing circuit for processing the image of the documents based on the separation sheet and the processing instruction.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus such as adigital copier.

In the case different kinds of documents or data, which cannot be dealtwith by the same inputting and outputting system or the same processingmethod are to be done as one job in a conventional image formingapparatus having a reading means (scanner) and an image forming means(printer) such as a digital copier, processing and copying are conductedaccording to each document, then the user finishes the job by insertingpages, and the like.

Further, in the case a special processing is required for a documentwith a special processing, all the documents are finished with thespecial processing unless the processing affects copy finishing of theother documents.

Recently, a method for instructing a copier or an image processingdevice automatically by means of an instruction sheet is proposed inJpn. Pat. Appln. KOKAI Publication Nos. 5-112064, 5-289456, and6-202415.

As mentioned above, a copying processing of documents including adocument to be applied with a special image processing involves aproblem in that extra time and labor are required since specialdocuments and general documents are copied separately, and the userinserts the pages manually.

Moreover, in the case all processing is conducted by a special mode, itinvolves a problem in that the processing time becomes longer so thatthe copying rate declines, and further, the production cost will rise ifexpendable goods are used in the processing.

Furthermore, in the instruction method with an instruction sheetconventionally proposed, since a high technology is used for recognizingthe instruction content on the sheet such as the OCR (optical characterrecognition), it involves a problem in that the recognition processingis complicated to take longer processing time and it requires the user'slabor in making the instruction sheet.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An object of the present invention is to provide an image formingapparatus capable of simplifying the instruction of a copying processingrequired by the user and the recognition processing of the instructioncontent to improve the user's convenience, and further, reducing thecost and accelerate the processing rate to improve the productivity.

An image forming apparatus according to the present invention comprisesan image forming apparatus comprises means for receiving a processinginstruction for image of documents in advance, means for reading theimage of the documents including an separation sheet, means forrecognizing the separation sheet from the documents, means forperforming a process in accordance with the processing instruction, onthe basis of a location in which the separation sheet is recognized, andmeans for forming an image based on the image of the documents which theprocess is performed.

According to the above-mentioned configuration, a separation sheet isread, and further, the document sheets and the separation sheets aredistinguished to recognize the instruction content of the separationsheet. In view of both of the instruction content from an operationpanel and the instruction content of the separation sheet, aninstruction content is decided so that image processing of an image of adocument will be conducted according to the decided instruction content.By separating the instruction content of the image processing to theseparation sheet and the instruction from the operation panel asmentioned above, the instruction content of the separation sheet can besimplified. For example, the instruction content of the separation sheetcan be one merely indicating the inserting position of a specialdocument, or one indicating the number of pages to be inserted.Accordingly, since a time-taking processing is not applied to theseparation sheet such as the conventional optical character recognition,an image forming apparatus capable of achieving the higher processingrate and the cost reduction can be provided.

Additional object and advantages of the invention will be set forth inthe description which follows, and in part will be obvious from thedescription, or may be learned by practice of the invention. The objectand advantages of the invention may be realized and obtained by means ofthe instrumentalities and combinations particularly pointed out in theappended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING

The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute apart of the specification, illustrate presently preferred embodiments ofthe invention, and together with the general description given above andthe detailed description of the preferred embodiments given below, serveto explain the principles of the invention.

FIG. 1 is a chart schematically showing the main electric configurationof one embodiment of an image forming apparatus (copier) of the presentinvention;

FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining the mechanical configuration of theembodiment of the image forming apparatus mainly showing an ADF meansand an image reading means;

FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining the mechanical configuration of theembodiment of the image forming apparatus mainly showing an ADF means,an image reading means, an outputting means, and a job sorting means;

FIG. 4 is a chart schematically showing a configuration of an operatingmeans;

FIG. 5 is a chart schematically showing an embodiment of a setting valuestoring means;

FIG. 6 is chart schematically showing a configuration of a separationsheet recognition means;

FIG. 7 is a chart showing a configuration of a size sensor of FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an embodiment of a width sensor;

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a configuration of a photo interrupter ofFIG. 7;

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a configuration of an encoder of FIG. 7;

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing a configuration of a recognition means withsize of FIG. 6;

FIG. 12 is a diagram for explaining the sheet size detection;

FIG. 13 is a table showing an example of storage in a paper sheetdetection judgment table provided in the detection means with size ofFIG. 6;

FIG. 14 is a diagram showing a configuration of a color sensor, which isan example of a characterizing sensor of FIG. 6;

FIG. 15 is a diagram for explaining the color detection method in theRGB space of a recognition means with character of FIG. 6;

FIG. 16 is a diagram showing a configuration of a sensor of atransmissivity sheet, which is an example of a characterizing sensor;

FIG. 17 is a diagram showing a configuration of judging a separationsheet from the transmissivity of a recognition means with character ofFIG. 6;

FIG. 18 is a diagram showing an example of an ID pattern to be printedon a separation sheet;

FIG. 19 is a chart showing a configuration of an image processingcontrol means;

FIG. 20 is a chart showing a configuration of an image processingcontrol means;

FIG. 21 is a chart showing a configuration of a monochrome imageprocessing section of FIG. 20;

FIG. 22 is a diagram for explaining an example of processing in afiltering processing section of FIG. 21;

FIG. 23 is a diagram showing an example of processing in a γ correctionprocessing section of FIG. 21;

FIG. 24 is a diagram showing a configuration of a γ correctionprocessing section of FIG. 21;

FIG. 25 is a diagram showing a configuration of a gradation processingsection of FIG. 21;

FIG. 26 is a conceptual diagram for explaining an unnecessary areadeleting processing;

FIG. 27 is a chart showing a configuration of the main part of a colorimage processing section;

FIG. 28 is a chart showing a configuration of an image delay means;

FIG. 29 is a chart showing a configuration of an image storing controlmeans;

FIG. 30 is a chart for explaining the function of a copy finishingcontrol means;

FIG. 31 is a chart for explaining the route of data to be controlled bya copy finishing means;

FIG. 32 is a diagram showing a mechanical configuration of theembodiment of an image forming apparatus for explaining theconfiguration mainly of the portions (sorter) functioning as the jobsorting control means, and the job sorting means of FIG. 1;

FIG. 33 is a diagram showing a mechanical configuration of theembodiment of an image forming apparatus for explaining theconfiguration mainly of the portions (sorter) functioning as the jobsorting control means, and the job sorting means of FIG. 1;

FIG. 34 is a flow chart for explaining the operation of the imageforming apparatus of FIG. 1 in the case the insertion position of aspecific document is instructed by the operating means;

FIG. 35 is a diagram for explaining the instruction inputting procedureof the operating means;

FIG. 36 is a flow chart for explaining the operation of the imageforming apparatus of FIG. 1 in the case the insertion position of aspecific document 5 is instructed by a separation sheet;

FIG. 37 is a diagram for explaining the insertion position of aseparation sheet into a bundle of documents;

FIG. 38 is a diagram for explaining the instruction inputting procedureof an operating means;

FIG. 39 is a diagram for explaining the instruction inputting procedureof an operating means;

FIG. 40 is a flow chart for explaining the operation of the imageforming apparatus of FIG. 1 in the case the insertion position of aspecific document and a specific processing are detected by a separationsheet;

FIG. 41 is a diagram for explaining the insertion position of aseparation sheet into a bundle of documents;

FIG. 42 is a flow chart for explaining the operation of the imageforming apparatus of FIG. 1 in the case a specific processing isdetected by an ID applied to a separation sheet;

FIG. 43 is a table showing an example of storage in a table for storingcombinations of image processing means provided in a setting valuestoring means, and the matching with IDs applied to the combinations;

FIG. 44 is a diagram for showing an example of a separation sheet wherean ID pattern is printed;

FIG. 45 is a diagram showing an example of partitioning a plurality ofjobs with a separation sheet;

FIG. 46 is a diagram showing another example of partitioning a pluralityof jobs with a separation sheet;

FIG. 47 is a diagram for explaining an example of a sorter function of ajob sorting means;

FIG. 48 is a diagram for explaining another example of a sorter functionof a job sorting means;

FIG. 49 is a diagram showing an example of instructing the partition ofa plurality of jobs and the number of copies for each job by aseparation sheet;

FIG. 50 is a diagram showing another example of instructing thepartition of a plurality of jobs and the number of copies for each jobby a separation sheet;

FIG. 51 is a diagram for explaining another example of a sorter functionof a job sorting means;

FIG. 52 is a diagram for explaining still another example of a sorterfunction of a job sorting means;

FIG. 53 is a diagram for explaining the case of appointing an area in adocument by a separation sheet;

FIG. 54 is a diagram for explaining the case of appointing an area in adocument by a separation sheet and combining certain data in theappointed area;

FIG. 55 is a diagram for explaining a mechanical configuration of animage forming apparatus of the embodiment for explaining the main partfor discharging a separation sheet and a document independently;

FIG. 56 is a diagram showing an example of outputting a set value storedin the setting value storing means in FIG. 1; and

FIG. 57 is a diagram showing an example of outputting information on anerror generated during the job operation.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Hereinafter embodiments of the present invention will be explained withreference to drawings.

(1) Configuration of an image forming apparatus

FIG. 1 is a chart schematically showing the configuration of an imageforming apparatus, specifically, an electrophotography type copier(hereinafter referred to simply as a copier) of this embodiment.

As shown in FIG. 1, the copier comprises an automatic document feeder(ADF) means 101, an image reading means 102, an operating means 103 forinputting various kinds of processing information to an image processingdevice by the user, a setting value storing means 104 for preliminarilystoring various setting values for processing, input from the operatingmeans 103, or recognition results of a separation sheet, a separationsheet recognition means 105 for recognizing a separation sheet, an imageprocessing control means 106 for controlling the image processingaccording to the setting, an image processing means 107 forimage-processing according to the instruction of the image processingcontrol means 106, an image delay means 108 for temporarily storing aninputted image, an image storing means 110 for storing a processedimage, an image storage controlling means 109 for exchanging externalprocessing or a data supply means with the image storing means 110, acopy finishing means 112 for finishing a copy, a copy finishing controlmeans 111 for controlling the copy finishing means 112, an outputtingmeans 113 for outputting a processed image, a job sorting means 115 forsorting an outputted image per job, a job sorting control means 114 forcontrolling the job sorting means 115, an image filing means 117 for asimple filing of a document image, an image file controlling means 116for controlling the image filing means 117, a systemcontrolling/managing means 118 for controlling and managing the entiresystem, and an auto recognition means 119 for automatic recognition of adocument and supplying the document information, such as the kind andthe complexity to the corresponding processing block.

Then each block will be explained in detail.

(2) Automatic document feeder (ADF) means, image reading means

The AUTOMATIC DOCUMENT FEEDER means 101 is for sending a separationsheet for giving instruction to a subject document or an imageprocessing device and the plurality of documents to a reading documentby the image reading means 102. The image reading means 102 is forreading a document sent by the AUTOMATIC DOCUMENT FEEDER means 101 or adocument directly placed on the document table with an optical systemand a CCD sensor, transferring it photoelectrically, and supplying it asdigital image data to the next block.

The configuration of the AUTOMATIC DOCUMENT FEEDER means 101 and theimage reading means 102 will be explained in further detail.

As shown in FIG. 2 and FIG. 3, the copier comprises an apparatus mainbody 10, provided mainly with the ADF means 101 and an image readingportion 4 to serve as the image reading means 102.

The image reading portion 4 comprises a document placing table 12 madeof transparent glass for placing a subject to be read, that is, adocument D, and a size plate 12a provided at one end of the documentplacing table 12 for indicating the position to place the document D.

An automatic document feeder 80 (hereinafter referred to as ADF) isprovided on the upper surface of the apparatus main body 10. The ADFfeeds documents onto the document placing table 12 automatically as wellas serves as a document presser for pressing the document D on thedocument placing table closely to the document placing table since itcan be open or close with respect to the document placing table.

The ADF comprises a document tray 82 for placing a document D, an emptysensor 81 for detecting whether or not a document is present, a pick-uproller 83 for picking up a document one by one from the document tray82, a paper feeding roller 84 for conveying a picked-up document, a pairof aligning rollers 85 for aligning the edge of a document, and analigning sensor 86 provided upstream of the pair of the aligning rollersfor detecting the arrival of a document.

The ADF 80 also comprises a conveyance belt 88 provided substantiallycovering the entirety of the document placing table 12 so that adocument D fed to the document placing table 12 from the size plate 12aside by the paper feeding roller 84 and the pair of the aligning rollers85 is sent to a predetermined position on the document placing table bythe conveyance belt 88.

A reversing roller 90, a non-reversing sensor 93, a flapper 91, and apaper discharging roller 92 are provided on the opposite end of the pairof the aligning rollers 85 with respect to the conveyance belt 88 in theADF. After reading the image information of a document by the documentreading portion 4 of the apparatus main body 10, the document D is fedout from the document placing table 12 by the conveyance belt 88 so asto be discharged to a document discharging portion 94 on the uppersurface of the ADF 80 via the reversing roller 90, the flapper 91, andthe paper discharging roller 92.

In the case the reverse side of the document D is to be read, thedocument conveyed by the conveyance belt 88 is reversed by the reversingroller 90 by switching the flapper 91 and again it is sent to thepredetermined position on the document placing table 12 by theconveyance belt 88.

The ADF 80 comprises a paper feeding motor 95 for driving the pick-uproller 83, the paper feeding roller 84, and the pair of the aligningrollers 85, and a conveyance motor 96 for driving the conveyance belt88, the reversing roller 90 and the paper discharging roller 92.

The image reading portion 4 provided inside the apparatus main body 10has an illuminating lamp 14 for illuminating a document D placed on thedocument placing table 12 and a first mirror 15 for deflecting a lightbeam reflected from the document D to a predetermined direction. Theilluminating lamp and the first mirror are attached to a first carriage16 provided below the document placing table 12 in the apparatus mainbody 10.

The first carriage 16 is provided movable parallel to the documentplacing table 12 by a pulse motor (not illustrated) via a toothed belt(not illustrated). A second carriage 18 movable parallel to the documentplacing table 12 is provided below the document placing table 12.

Second and third mirrors 20, 21 arranged perpendicularly are provided inthe second carriage 18 for successively deflecting the light beamreflected by the document D and deflected by the first mirror 15. Thesecond carriage 18 is moved parallel along the document placing table 12at the half rate with respect to the first carriage according to themovement of the first carriage 16 by the toothed belt and the like fordriving the first carriage 16.

An image forming lens 22 for gathering the reflected right beam from thethird mirror 21 on the second carriage 18 and fixed fourth to sixthmirrors 23, 24, 25 for introducing the reflected light beam gathered bythe image forming lens backward to a photosensitive drum later describedare provided below the document placing table 12. The image forming lens22 is provided movable in the plane including the optical axis of thelight beam deflected by the third mirror 21 via a driving mechanism sothat the light beam can form an image at a desired magnification by theself-movement.

The reading operation of a plurality of documents in the image readingportion 4 having the above-mentioned configuration will be explained.

A first document on the document tray 82 is fed to a predeterminedposition on the document placing table 12 of the apparatus main body 10by the ADF 80. A copying paper P is taken out from one of the papercassettes 48 (or 50) to be conveyed by the paper feeding roller 57toward a pair of resist rollers 58 until a pre-resist sensor 59 isswitched on. When the pre-resist sensor 59 is switched on, the paperfeeding operation is temporarily stopped.

Then the ADF controlling portion judges whether of not a document isjammed by the aligning sensor 86, the reversing sensor 93, and the likein the ADF 80. In the case no document D is jammed, image information isread from the document on the document placing table 12 by the imagereading portion 4 under the control of the main controlling portion soas to conduct the photoelectric transfer by the CCD sensor according tothe read image information.

(3) Operating means

The operating means 103 comprises indicating devices such as a touchpanel LCD on the control panel.

The configuration is shown in FIG. 4.

The depression state of keys on the control panel 301 and the touchpanel is recognized by a control key microcomputer 314. The control keymicrocomputer 314 communicates the depression state to a microcomputer321 of a control board 302. The microcomputer 321 data-accesses with aROM 323 and a RAM 322 based on this information and outputs from theother sensors such as a paper sensor and a toner concentration sensor. Aliquid crystal controller 324 communicates the data. Data of anindicated screen, program data, and the like are stored in the ROM 323,and an screen switching time, and the like are stored in the RAM 322.

Further, parameter for internal processing, processing switchinginformation, and the like are supplied to a setting value storing means104 through the microcomputer 321.

At the same time, according to the situation, outputs such as driving ofa motor are conducted to detect the jam processing, the toner supplyprocessing, and the like from signals of processing setting error, thepaper sensor, the waste toner sensor, the toner concentration sensor,and the like so that a buzzer on the control panel is sounded as needed.

The liquid crystal controller 324 transfers signals based on signalsfrom the microcomputer 321 to a liquid crystal display device 311 so asto achieve a liquid crystal display.

(4) Setting value storing means

The setting value storing means 104 will be explained with reference toFIG. 5.

The setting value storing means 104 comprises a setting data bank ROM104a, a process set value ROM 104b, a control microcomputer 104d, and adata input output I/F 104c.

Setting values necessary for various kinds of processing are arranged insome manner and stored in the setting data bank ROM 104a. Matching ispreliminarily determined, for example, setting for the characterdedicated processing is from the "aaa" address to the "abc" address sothat the corresponding data in the ROM 104a are downloaded to theprocess set RAM 104b by the microcomputer control to become the presentsetting, then the parameter of the corresponding processing block is setby the data input output I/F 104c.

The data input output I/F 104c is an interface for the exchange betweenthe separation sheet recognition means 105 and the other blocks forreading or writing of set values in each block.

For setting data transferred from the setting of the operating means 103or from the temporary setting by the separation sheet are received byoutputting interrupt signals from the blocks, with the controlmicrocomputer 104d in the input waiting state, then outputting a controlsignal from the microcomputer, and receiving information from thecorresponding blocks through a data bus.

The control microcomputer 104 exchanges with external means through thedata input output I/F 104c so that corresponding parameter from thesetting data bank ROM 104a is downloaded to the process set RAM (buffer)104b, or a preliminarily instructed calculation is conducted and theresult is supplied to the process set RAM (buffer) as needed. Each meansis set with only necessary data through the data input output I/F 104c.

Further, as mentioned above, set values are switched or revisedaccording to the information inputted by the operating means 104 or theseparation sheet recognition means 105. Moreover, according to the need,process set information per document or per job, or an ID correspondingto the ID registration to the process groups, which is the usercustomize function later described, is supplied to the outputting means113 as bit map data, and the outputting means 113 outputs it.

(5) Separation sheet recognition means

FIG. 6 shows a configuration of the separation sheet recognition means105.

As shown in FIG. 6, the separation sheet recognition means 105 comprisesa size detecting sensor means 501, a recognition means with size 502, acharacterizing sensor means 503 for detecting characteristics of apaper, such as a color and the transmissivity, a recognition means withcharacter 504, an ID decoding means 505 for reading the ID pattern onthe separation sheet, and the like from the inputted image, a separationinforming means 506 for recognizing the separation sheet from the resultso as to send the information to a corresponding block, and a separationID informing means 507 for informing the ID of the separation sheet.

As shown in FIG. 7, the size detecting sensor means 501 comprises asheet width sensor 501a and a sheet setting time sensor 501d foroutputting the sheet width information and the sheet length information,respectively.

The sheet width sensor 501a comprises a photo interrupter 501b and anencoder 501c later described.

As shown in FIG. 8, the photo interrupter 501b includes a document table5011 and a reflection type photo interrupter comprisinginfrared-emitting diodes (LED) PI1 to PI3 and a photo transistor. Sincea light beam of the LED is reflected by the document when a document isplaced on the document glass, the photo transistor can be on or offaccording to the existence of the reflected light so as to allow thedetection of the existence of the document.

For example, as shown in FIG. 9, with a rectangular electric waveapplied to the LED for having the LED emit at a certain frequency forchecking the reaction of the photo transistor, the output shown in FIG.9 can be obtained from the photo transistor in the case a document ispresent, and the output "0" can be obtained in the case a document isnot present.

As shown in FIG. 10, according to the on/off state of the sensors PI1,PI2, PI3, the encoder 501c puts the corresponding outputs PO1 to PO3 atthe high (H=1) or low (L=1) state. For example, if the photo transistorresponds to the PI1 photo interrupter as in FIG. 9 by a reflected lightbeam, the corresponding output PO1 becomes H(1), otherwise, it becomesL(0). Similarly, the PO2 becomes H(1) or L(0) according to the responseof the sensor PI2, and the PO3 becomes H(1) or L(0) according to theresponse of the PI3. They are supplied to the recognition means withsize 502 of FIG. 6 as the sheet width information.

The sheet setting time sensor 501d measures the time necessary forsetting a sheet by the ADF and supplies it to the recognition means withsize 502 of FIG. 6 as the length information. For example, with thesheet setting time by the ADF of T sec and the sheet setting speed of Smm/sec, an approximate sheet length can be assumed since the sheetlength is proportional to S×T.

As shown in FIG. 11, the recognition means with size 501 receives theinformation on the sheet width and length from the size detecting sensormeans 501, and compares it with a preliminarily set information. In thecase it is the same as the size of the separation, a separationdetecting signal (separation=1, others=0) and the corresponding size(for example, the corresponding input as it is) are outputted.

A concrete example of the case of detecting a separation sheet based onthe size is shown in FIG. 12 and FIG. 13.

Although an example with only one separation sheet defined by acombination of width information and length information is given in thisembodiment to facilitate understanding, it is also possible to define bya combination of a plurality of separation sheets. Further, it is alsopossible to define things other than the size of a document to becopied, such as having an A3 size separation sheet for an A4 document.

Then, the characterizing sensor 503 and the recognition means withcharacter 504 of FIG. 6 will be explained. The character herein denotesthe characteristics of the paper of the separation sheet, such as color,transmissivity, and the like.

First, the case of recognizing the separation sheet by color detectionwill be explained. In this case, the characterizing sensor 503 is asensor for detecting the base color of the paper, and the recognitionmeans with character 504 is for recognizing whether or not the detectedbase is the separation.

The base color sensor of the separation sheet 503 comprises a carriageof the scanner 5042 provided with color sensors 5043 to 5045 at one or aplurality of parts thereon as shown in FIG. 14. When the carriage moves,the RGB characteristics of a several lines of reflected light beams atthe tip of a separation sheet 5046 placed on a document table 5041 areread so that the average thereof is supplied to the recognition meanswith character 504 as the base color information.

For example, as shown in FIG. 14, color sensors 5043 to 5045 areprovided in the vicinity of the center and both ends of the separationsheet with respect to the separation sheet 5046 so that R, G, B are readat initial several lines (such as 50) when the carriage 5042 moves tothe reading operation from reflected light beams of positionscorresponding to each line, and the average is outputted as the basecolor of the sheet.

The recognition means with character 504 is for judging whether or notthe detected base is the separation or not. As shown in FIG. 15, theaverage RGB information from the color detecting sensor 503 and thepreliminarily set RGB components of a separation are compared so as tomake judgment on whether or not it is a separation sheet based onwhether or not it is within the preliminarily determined error range.

That is, with the premise that a vector S represents a separation sheetand a vector M represents a measured average color characteristic in theRGB space, if the R, G, B components of the difference vector D of thevector S and the vector M, DR, DG, DB are:

|DR|<ε R, wherein ε R is the error range of the R component,

|DG|<ε G, wherein ε G is the error range of the G component, and

|DB|<ε B, wherein ε B is the error range of the B component,

it is recognized to be the separation sheet.

If the error range for R, G, B can be set independently by theseparation sheet, different ranges can be set independently for positiveand negative components.

If it is a separation, the recognition means with character 504 outputsthe separation detecting signal (separation=1, others=0), and thecorresponding color information (for example, the corresponding measuredaverage RGB as it is, or the RGB of the corresponding separation sheet,and the like).

Although only the case of a separation sheet of a certain size has beendiscussed herein, for example, it is also possible to recognize aseparation sheet according to the need of the user with a movable sensorso that the position can be set by the user, with the number of thecolor sensors on the carriage 5042 increased so as to correspond toseparation sheets of various widths for recognizing the separation fromthe width and sensor information.

Then another example of the characterizing sensor 503 and therecognition means with character 504 of FIG. 6 will be explained. Forexample, the case with a paper or a medium with a high transmissivityused as the separation sheet, and the separation sheet is detected basedon the transmissivity of the subject to be detected is described. Inthis case, the area appointment in the document can be conducted.

As shown in FIG. 16, the transmissivity detecting sensor of a separationsheet 503 can detect the existence of a paper and a separation sheet bythe amount of a reflected light beam by a sensor of the transmissivitylike the above-mentioned size detecting sensor.

The sensor of FIG. 16 differs from the sensor of FIG. 9 in that thephoto transistor amplifies a reflected light beam so that the reflectedlight beam is supplied to the subsequent recognition means withcharacter 504 as it is.

The recognition means with character 504 has a configuration shown inFIG. 17. Several thresholds (in this case, two thresholds Thn, Thp,Thn<Thp) and the output of the transmissivity detecting sensor 503 arecompared by comparators COM1, COM2 so as to make judgment on whether ornot it is a separation sheet form the comparison result.

In the case there is little reflected light beam, it is the case of "nodocument" so that both outputs from the comparator COM2 for comparingwith the Thn and the comparator COM1 for comparing with the Thp shown inFIG. 17 become "0".

In the case there is a certain amount of reflected light beam(Thn<input<Thp), the output from the comparator COM2, according to thechange of the input, becomes "0" when the input is smaller than Thn, andwhen the input is larger than Thn, becomes "1". In this case, the outputof the comparator COM1 becomes "0" to be judged as a separation sheet.

Since the outputs from both COM1, COM2 become large when the reflectedlight beam is large, that is, larger than Thn and Thp, it is judged tobe a document.

Accordingly, if a medium with a high transmissivity can be recognized asa separation sheet, means for detecting a colored separation sheet witha high transmissivity can be considered by combining with theabove-mentioned color detecting sensor.

Further, it can also be considered to designate processing or editingdepending on the area in the document by placing one with a hightransmissivity on the document and marking an area of the document by amarker for appointing a certain area.

The processing instruction corresponding to the area can be theinstruction by the above-mentioned operating means 103 or an IDdesignating instruction later described. Furthermore, instruction by acolor marker can also be considered in the case the reading CCD is acolor sensor.

An ID decoding means 505 in FIG. 6 is for reading the ID outputted fromthe device later described. As shown in FIG. 18, the ID pattern is acyclic pattern in the main scanning direction.

The ID decoding means 505 decodes the number of the patterns, forexample, in the case of a black and white pattern, the number of blackand white and the width thereof are decoded from the starting line to apredetermined distance in the sub scanning direction for each line. Ifthey are substantially the same in each line and form a cyclic patternof the same width preliminarily set in the main scanning direction, theID is recognized by the number thereof. For example, in the case of FIG.18, the processing ID is "4".

The separation informing means 506 of FIG. 6 recognizes the meaning ofthe separation by referring to a recognition table preliminarily storedinside thereof in view of the judgment result by the recognition meanswith size 502, the recognition means with character 504, and the IDdecoding means 505 so as to give instruction to the correspondingexternal block. For example, if it is a separation sheet for a pageinsertion, instruction of the insertion or inserting position is givento a copy finishing means 111 later described, or if it is for switchingthe image processing, the information is conveyed to an image processingcontrol means 106 or the above-mentioned setting value storing means104.

Accordingly, the information is conveyed to a corresponding processingmeans of a subsequent stage according to the separation sheet.

Since the separation ID informing means 507 conveys the informationdirectly to the setting value storing means 104 when a processing ID isdetected, the setting value storing means 104 conducts the correspondingsetting.

(6) Image processing control means

The image processing control means of FIG. 1 is for switching the routeor parameter of the image processing according to a specific document.As shown in FIG. 19, it comprises an interface (I/F) section 1061 withthe setting value storing means 104 (see FIG. 1), a standard modeparameter table 1062, a specific mode parameter table 1063, a specificmode deciding section 1064, a standard mode processing informationstorage section 1065, a specific mode processing information storagesection 1066, a parameter selector 1067, and a process selector 1068.Usually, it supplies the parameter or processing informationcorresponding to the standard mode to the image processing means 107.

The parameter or processing information in the standard mode or thespecific mode is downloaded from the setting value storing means 104 tothe standard mode parameter table 1062, the specific mode parametertable 1063, the standard mode processing information storage section1065, and the specific mode processing information storage section 1066via the interface means 1061.

In the case the information on the specific mode is known beforehand(such as the case of setting via the operating means 103), it can bedownloaded as mentioned above. However, in the case it is instructed bya separation sheet, it is downloaded according to the recognition resultby the separation sheet recognition means 105 for each time.

The specific mode deciding means 1064 is for deciding whether or not itis a specific processing based on the information from the operatingmeans 103 or the separation sheet recognition means 105. In the case ofa specific processing, necessary parameter, processing information andthe like are written in the specific mode parameter table 1063, and thespecific mode processing information storage section 1066 from thesetting value storing means 104 via the interface section 1061, then theparameter selector 1067 and the processing selector 1068 select theparameter and the processing information for the specific processing andsupply them to the image processing means 107 (see FIG. 1).

After finishing the specific processing, the specific mode decidingmeans 1064 outputs a signal capable of selecting parameter or processinginformation corresponding to the standard mode to the parameter selector1067 and the processing selector 1068.

(7) Image processing means

As shown in FIG. 20, the image processing means of FIG. 1 comprises amonochrome image processing section 107a, a color image processingsection 107b, and a process selector 107c, where the processing selector107c can switch to either of the monochrome image processing section107a and the color image processing section 107b. For example, in thecase only one of a plurality of documents is to be color-processes, itswitches such that the color processing is applied only for thedocument, and the monochrome processing is applied to the otherdocuments.

A configuration of the monochrome image processing section 107a is shownin FIG. 21.

The monochrome image processing section 107a of FIG. 21 comprises afiltering processing section 1071 for applying the noise elimination orthe edge emphasis to an image read by the image reading means 102, a γcorrection processing section 1072 for correcting the nonlinearcharacteristics of the input output system, a gradation processingsection 1073 for reproducing the gradation according to the gradationnumber of the output system, and an unnecessary area deleting processsection 1074 for eliminating portions, such as the outside part of adocument, or the thickness of a book, and the like.

An example of a filtering processing in the filtering processing section1071 is shown in FIG. 22.

In the case a filter F of a 3×3 size is applied to a picture element g(i, j), the filtering processing result of the picture element g (i, j)can be expressed by the convolution of a filter coefficient and animage, which can be represented by the below-mentioned formula (1):##EQU1##

Which frequency component is to be emphasized, or to be eliminated canbe decided according to the filter coefficient. For example, it can beconsidered that a high pass filter is emphasized in the case of acharacter document, or a low pass filter is emphasized in the case of aphotograph document. Accordingly, by changing parameter according to thedocument, an appropriate output can be obtained.

An example of the γ correction processing in the γ correction processingsection 1072 will be explained with reference to FIG. 23 and FIG. 24.

The γ correction is to correct the nonlinear characteristics of inputand output. A value corresponding to the reverse curve B of a nonlinearinput output characteristic curve A of the input and output systemdevice shown in FIG. 23 is stored as a table shown in FIG. 24 so that aninputted value becomes the address of the table, and a valuecorresponding to the address is outputted as the correction value. Anembodiment where the γ correction is applied only to the photographdocument, but not to the character document can be considered.

An example of the gradation processing in the gradation processingsection 1073 will be explained with reference to FIG. 25.

In the configuration of the gradation processing section 1073 shown inFIG. 25, an inputted picture element is compared with a threshold, anddepending on whether it is larger than the threshold or not, either "1"or "0" is outputted (binary output).

An output appropriate respectively for a character document or aphotograph document, for example, a pseudo gradation is reproduced usinga cyclic threshold matrix such as a dither for a document having agradation, or a fixed threshold is used for a document having an edgestorage such as a character document.

Although the dither processing is explained for facilitatingunderstanding, other methods of a gradation processing, such as theerror diffusion can be considered. Furthermore, it is also possible toapply the same gradation processing for all the documents, and findadjustment in character or photograph documents can be conducted by theabove-mentioned filtering processing section 1071 or γ correctionprocessing section 1072.

As shown in FIG. 26, the unnecessary area deleting process section 1074is for eliminating an area unnecessary for copying, such as the outsideof the document or the shadow of a book. As mentioned above, it is alsopossible to judge an unnecessary area in the document by instructing anarea to be copied in the document by a separation sheet, or by anautomatic recognition system (reference: TOKKAIHEI 8-242,358) such asthe structural analysis.

As shown in FIG. 27, the color image processing section 107b of FIG. 20is for color-converting the. values inputted from the manuscript perpicture element, that is, red (R), green (G), and blue (B) to the threeprimary color data for controlling the color materials for colorrecording, that is, yellow (Y), magenta (M), and cyan (C), and black (K)at a color converter section 1081.

Then substantially the same processing as in the above-mentionedmonochrome image processing section 107a is applied for each of thecolor-converted color component data Y, M, C, K (channel) at an imageprocessing section 1082. According to the processing, a color imageoutput can be achieved by conducting the four-color output by anoutputting means 113 (see FIG. 1).

(8) Image delay means

The image delay means 108 of FIG. 1 is for temporarily storing an image(inputted image) read by the image reading means 102. It comprises aDRAM or an FIFO.

As the delay time, the time for recognizing a separation sheet by theseparation sheet recognition means 105 is the minimum necessary time,and an error processing later described, a storage capacitycorresponding to one or a plurality of pages is necessary.

A configuration of the image delay means 108 is shown in FIG. 28.

As shown in FIG. 28, the image delay means comprises a storage section108a, a saving control section 108b, and a loading control section 108c.An inputted image supplied from the image reading means 102 (see FIG. 1)is written in the storage section 108a under the control of the savingcontrol section 108a. After a predetermined delay time, the image isread from the storage section 108a by the loading control section 108cby the first-in first-out method (read-according to the order ofwrite-in) to be supplied to the image processing means 107 (see FIG. 1).

The output from the image reading means 102 (see FIG. 1) is alsosupplied to the separation sheet recognition means 105 directly.

(9) Image storage controlling means

Then the image storage controlling means 109 will be explained. As shownin FIG. 29, the image storage controlling means 109 mainly comprises aninterface section 109a for the image processing means 107 and the copyfinishing means 112, an external network I/F section 109b, an interfacesection 109c for the image file means, a controlling section 109d, andan interface section 109f for the image storage means.

The interface sections 109a, 109b, 109c, and 109f are for the exchangeof the image data with corresponding processing means, networks, imagefiling means or image storage means under the control of the controllingsection 109d.

(10) Image storing means

The image storing means 110 of FIG. 1 stores an image processed by theimage processing means 107, an image filed by the image filing means117, and the image data supplied from the outside through the networkvia the image storage controlling means 109. As needed, it supplies thestored data to the image processing means 107, the copy finishing means112, the image filing means 117 or the network via the image storagecontrolling means 109.

(11) Copy finishing control means

As shown in FIG. 30, the copy finishing control means of FIG. 1 is forinstructing, for example, the insertion of an image applied with aspecific processing, the necessary image processing instruction, theinsertion route of an image data, and the like to the copy finishingmeans 112 according to the set value designated through the operatingmeans 103 and stored in the setting value storing means 104, and thecontent recognized by the separation sheet recognition means 105.

(12) Copy finishing means

The copy finishing means 112 of FIG. 1 is for conducting a desired copyfinishing by receiving the instruction on insertion, processing, theroute of the data, and the like from the copy finishing control means111, and informing the instruction to the image storing means 110.

With reference to FIG. 31, an example of a copy finishing procedure willbe explained.

In FIG. 31, image data outputted from the image processing means 107 aresent to the copy finishing means 112 in an ordinary copy finishing (R1).Insertion image data of the same job as the image of the ordinary copyfinishing are temporarily stored in the image storing means 110 via theimage storage controlling means 109 (R2). At the time, the operation ofthe copy finishing means 111 is temporarily stopped. When it reaches ata preliminarily instructed insertion position in the copy processing(R1), that is, in the insertion mode (R3), the image data storedpreliminarily in R2 are read from the corresponding address to beinserted (R4). The image data inserted at R4 are image-processedtemporarily as needed in the specific processing such as the externaldata, the filed data, and the many-in-1.

(13) Outputting means, job sorting means, job sorting control means

The outputting means 113, the job sorting control means 114, and the jobsorting means 115 will be explained with reference to FIG. 3, FIG. 32,and FIG. 33.

The operation of each section to serve as the outputting means 113 inthe apparatus main body 10 will be explained with reference to FIG. 3.

As shown in FIG. 3, from the image data (electric signal) applied withprocessing such as the image processing outputted from the copyfinishing means 112, a toner image is formed on the photosensitivemember drum 36 by a laser writing section with a laser light beam. Thatis, the pair of the resist rollers 58 are driven at a predeterminedtiming with respect to the image forming operation for a predeterminedtime (for example, 0.5 second for an A4 copying paper). Accordingly, thecopying paper P is conveyed through the transfer section between thephotosensitive member drum 36 and the transfer charger 40 so as to forma toner image on the copying sheet P. The copying sheet P is furtherconveyed to the fixing device 53 by the conveyance belt 60, thenconveyed to the paper discharging roller 62 after fixing the tonerimage.

The operation of each section to serve as the job sorting control means114, and the job sorting means 115 in the apparatus main body 10 will beexplained with reference to FIG. 3, FIG. 32, and FIG. 33.

With the driving of the pair of the resist rollers 58, a solenoid 95 isexcited and the flapper 94 is switched to the sorting position at thesame time as well as various kinds of rollers in the sorter 71 and theconveyance belt 98 are driven. A sorting head 96 is maintained in theposition facing to the sorting tray at the uppermost part (first sortingtray) 75 at the time of starting the copying operation.

Accordingly, the copying paper discharged from the discharging opening54 of the apparatus main body 10 by the pair of the discharging rollers62 to be sent into the sorter 71 is sent to the sorting path 105 by theflapper 94 and the guide roller 97, and further, conveyed to the sortinghead 96 by the conveyance belt 98. The copying paper P is gathered atthe first sorting tray 75 by the feeding roller 96a of the sorting head96.

Papers P picked up one by one from the first or second paper cassette48, 50 by the pick-up roller 56 are sent to the pair of the resistrollers 58 by the pair of the paper feeding rollers 57. The copyingpapers P are sent to the transfer section after being aligned by thepair of the resist rollers 58. A developer image formed on thephotosensitive member drum 36, that is, a toner image is transferredonto a paper P by the transfer charger 40.

The copying paper P with the toner image transferred thereon is removedfrom the surface of the photosensitive member drum 36 by the AC coronadischarge from an eliminating charger 39 or by the function of aneliminating nail 42, and conveyed to the fixing device 53 via theconveyance belt 60 comprising a part of the conveyance path 52. Afterthe melt-fixing of the developer image on the copying paper P by thefixing device, the paper P is discharged from the discharging opening 54by the pair of paper feeding rollers 61 and the pair of the paperdischarging rollers 62.

A reversing mechanism 64 is provided below the conveyance path 52 forreversing and sending a copying paper P passed through the fixing device53 to the pair of the resist rollers 58 again. The reversing mechanism64 comprises a temporary gathering section 65 for temporarily gatheringcopying papers P, a reversing path 66 stemmed from the conveyance path52 for reversing and introducing a copying paper P passed through thefixing device 53 to the temporary gathering section 65, a pick-up roller67 for picking up the copying papers P gathered on the temporarygathering section one by one, and a paper feeding roller 69 for feedinga picked-up paper to the pair of the resist rollers 58 through theconveyance path 68. A sorting gate 70 is provided at the branch partbetween the conveyance path 52 and the reversing device 66 forselectively sorting the copying papers P to the discharging opening 54or the reversing device 66.

In the case of both side copying, copying papers P passed through thefixing device 53 are introduced to the reversing path 66 by the sortinggate 70, and temporarily gathered at the temporary gathering section 65in the reversed state. Then they are sent to the pair of the resistrollers 58 by the pick-up roller 67 and the pair of the paper feedingrollers 69 through the conveyance path 68. The papers P are sent to thetransfer section again after being aligned by the pair of the resistrollers 58 so that a toner image is transferred onto the reverse side ofthe copying paper P. Then the copying paper P is discharged onto thepaper discharging tray 55 via the conveyance path 52, the fixing device53 and the paper discharging roller 62.

As shown in FIG. 3 and FIG. 32, the copier comprises a sorter 71 foroptionally sorting and gathering many sheets of copying papers P aftercopying discharged from the discharging opening 54 of the apparatus mainbody 10.

The sorter 71 has a housing 72 connected to the discharging opening 54and arranged parallel to the apparatus main body 10. The housing 72 hasan opening 73 in the opposite side surface with respect to the apparatusmain body 10. The housing 72 is provided with many trays for gatheringcopying papers P discharged from the apparatus main body 10 in thelaminated state along the vertical direction. These trays include anon-sort tray 74 in the uppermost position and many sorting trays 75laminated with a predetermined gap in-between below the non-sort tray.The non-sort tray 74 and the sorting trays 75 elongate from the opening73 to the outside of the housing 72.

The housing 72 accommodates a pair of entrance rollers 76 arrangedadjacent to the discharging opening 54, a pair of outlet rollers 78 fordischarging copying papers P conveyed by the entrance rollers 76 througha discharging path 77 onto the non-sort tray 74, the flapper as asorting means provided between the pair of the entrance rollers and thepair of the outlet rollers, and the sheet sensor 103 provided betweenthe entrance rollers and the flapper for detecting the arrival of thecopying papers P.

The flapper 94 is provided rotatably between the discharging positionshown in FIG. 33 for guiding a copying paper P sent from the entrancerollers 76 to the outlet rollers 78 and the sorting position for guidingthe copying paper sent from the entrance roller 76 to the sorting tray75 side such that it can be switched between these positions by thesolenoid 95.

As shown in FIG. 3, FIG. 32, FIG. 33, the sorter 71 comprises thesorting head 96 movable in the vicinity of the tray edges in thelaminating direction of the sorting trays 75, that is, along thevertical direction, a guide roller 97 provided between the entrancerollers 76 and the flapper 94, and the conveyance belt 98 provided alongthe vertical direction below the guide roller 97. The entrance rollers76, the outlet rollers, 87, the guide roller 97 and the conveyance belt98 are driven by a feeding motor 106 later described.

The sorting head 96, serving as the sorting means, is supported by aguide rod 100 elongating in the vertical direction, and drivenvertically by an elevating motor 102 later described. The sorting head96 is attached with a pair of feeding rollers 96a. A guide sheet 104,which extends or contracts according to the elevating operation of thesorting head, is provided between the sorting head 96 and the flapper94. And a sorting path 105, which elongates from the flapper 94 to thesorting head 96, is formed between the guide sheet, and the guide roller97 and the conveyance belt 98.

As shown in FIG. 32, with the flapper 94 switched to the sortingposition, a copying paper P discharged from the discharging opening 54of the apparatus main body 10 is sent by the entrance rollers and guidedto the sorting path 105 by the flapper 94 and the guide roller 97.Further, the copying paper P is sent to the sorting head 96 by theconveyance belt 98, and discharged onto the sorting tray 75 facing tothe sorting head 96 by the feeding rollers 96a.

Position detecting sensors 108 are provided at the edge part of thenon-sort tray 74 and the sorting trays 75. The position of the sortinghead 96 is detected by the position detecting sensors 108.

The job sorting means 114 has sorter functions such as stack, andbutting, and other functions such as stapling per a job unit.

(14) Image file controlling means

The image file controlling means 116 of FIG. 1 is for readingpreliminarily filed document data from the image filing means 117 by theinstruction from the operating means 103 or the separation sheetrecognition means 105, and storing them in the image storing means 110through the above-mentioned image storage controlling means 109 so thatinsertion and re-output of the filed documents can be enabled by readingthem by the copy finishing means 112 and applying image processing asneeded.

(15) Image filing means

The image filing means 117 is a well-known simple image file means forapplying the ID, date, and the like to each job and recordingtemporarily. If the file capacity becomes short, stored jobs areeliminated from the oldest one so as to allow storage of new jobs.

(16) System controlling/managing means

The system controlling/managing means 118 is for controlling/managingthe apparatus main body as a whole. It generates a clock for all theblocks, a control signal, a timing controlling signal for exchange amongthe blocks, and the like to be supplied to the corresponding block.

(17) Auto recognition means

The auto recognition means is for detecting the characteristic or thecomplexity of the inputted document, exchanging the detected informationwith the setting value storing means 104, the image processing means107, and the like, checking whether or not an error is included in theuser's instruction, and requiring a test printing in the correspondingoptimum setting if there is an error. Further, it also requires a testprinting for a document of a high complexity.

Then the operation of the image forming apparatus (copier) of FIG. 1will be explained.

First, the terms used in the explanation below are defined.

A general document means mainly a document to be read out, which can bedealt with by the ADF.

A general copy means mainly a copy of an image on a general document ona predetermined paper.

A specific document means a document, which cannot be dealt with by theADF, but should be applied with a specific processing, such as adocument from a book/magazine.

A specific copy means a copy of an image on a specific document on apredetermined paper.

A specific processing means the different image processing in the case adifferent image processing is applied to some documents from a pluralityof documents.

A job means one processing unit in conducting a copying processing in acopier, which is instructed by the user.

(18) Operation explanation A: insertion of copying of a document, whichcannot be dealt with by the ADF to a position instructed by theoperating means

The operation of the image forming apparatus (copier) of FIG. 1 will beexplained with reference to the flow chart of FIG. 34 by an example ofcopying a plurality of (for example, 100 sheets) documents (standarddocuments) by the ADF (automatic feeder) means 101, and insertingcopying of a document (specific document), which cannot be dealt with bythe ADF (automatic feeder) means 101, such as a book/magazine.

Step S1: As shown in FIG. 35(a), by selecting the insertion mode, whichis a specific copying mode from the operating means 103 of FIG. 1, andinstructing the information, such as the number of the pages of thespecific copying to be inserted (see FIG. 35(b)), and the insertionposition (see FIG. 35(c)), the set value is stored in the setting valuestoring means 104.

Step S2: After placing a specific document such as a book/magazine onthe document table of the image reading means 102, reading the image ofthe specific document, and conducting a predetermined image processingby the image processing means 107, it is stored in the image storingmeans 110 via the image storage controlling means 109.

Steps S3 to S6: A plurality of standard documents are read by the ADFmeans 101 and the image reading means 102, applied with a predeterminedimage processing by the image processing means 107, and outputted fromthe outputting means 113 via the copy finishing means 112.

Step S4: At the preliminarily set insertion position of the specificdocument in the processing of the standard documents, the ADF means 101and the image reading means 102 are temporarily stopped.

Step S9: Information on the specific copy insertion is supplied from thesetting value storing means 104 to the copy finishing control means 111,and further, the specific copy insertion instruction is supplied fromthe copy finishing control means 111 to the copy finishing means 110.

Step S10: A specific document image stored beforehand in the imagestoring means 110 is read by the copy finishing means 112 via the imagestorage controlling means 109, and is outputted from the copy outputtingmeans 113 as a specific copy.

Steps S7 to S8: After the insertion operation of the specific copy, theADF means 101 and the image reading means 102 resume the operation torestart the continuous reading, image processing, output of the standarddocuments. Until the set documents are done, the steps S4 to S7 arerepeated.

Accordingly, by instructing the insertion position of a specific copyamong standard copies, the pages to be inserted, and the like, inadvance by the operating means 103, a plurality of specific copies canbe .inserted continuously or independently to different positions with asimple instruction so that the time conventionally required in arrangingcopied documents and labor required in the insertion instruction of aspecific copy can be omitted. In particular, in the case insertion of aplurality of specific copies is required, or the number of the sets ofcopying is large, it is advantageous in terms of the user's convenience.

(19) Operation explanation B: insertion of a document, which cannot bedealt with by the ADF, to the position where a separation sheet isinserted

The operation of the image forming apparatus (copier) of FIG. 1 will beexplained with reference to the flow chart of FIG. 36 by an example ofcopying a plurality of (for example, 100 sheets) documents (standarddocuments) by the ADF (automatic feeder) means 101, and insertingcopying of a document (specific document), which cannot be dealt with bythe ADF (automatic feeder) means 101, such as a book/magazine.

Step S11: As shown in FIG. 35(a), the insertion mode, which is aspecific copying mode, is selected from the operating means 103 of FIG.1.

Step S12: After placing a specific document such as a book/magazine onthe document table of the image reading means 102, reading the image ofthe specific document, and conducting a predetermined image processingby the image processing means 107, it is stored in the image storingmeans 110 via the image storage controlling means 109.

Steps S13 to S16: A separation sheet is inserted in a standard documentbundle as shown in FIG. 37, and the document bundle is set at apredetermined position of the ADF means 101 so that the plurality ofdocuments are read by the image reading means 102, applied with apredetermined image processing by the image processing means 107, andoutputted from the outputting means 113 via the copy finishing means112.

Steps S14, S19: When the separation sheet is recognized by theseparation sheet recognition means 105 in the processing of standarddocuments, the information of the insertion position, and the like issupplied to the copy finishing control means 111, and further, theinsertion instruction of the specific copy is given from the copyfinishing control means 111 to the copy finishing means 110.

Step S20: A specific document image stored beforehand in the imagestoring means 110 is read by the copy finishing means 112 via the imagestorage controlling means 109, and is outputted from the copy outputtingmeans 113 as a specific copy.

Steps S17 to S18: After the insertion operation of the specific copy,the ADF means 101 and the image reading means 102 resume the operationto restart the continuous reading, image processing, output of thesubsequent documents set on the ADF means. Until the set documents aredone, the steps S14 to S17 are repeated.

Accordingly, by inserting a separation sheet at a desired position in adocument bundle, a plurality of specific copies can be insertedcontinuously or independently to different positions with a simpleinstruction so that the time conventionally required in arranging copieddocuments and labor required in the insertion instruction of a specificcopy can be omitted. In particular, in the case insertion of a pluralityof specific copies is required, or the number of the sets of copying islarge, it is advantageous in terms of the user's convenience.

(20) Operation explanation C: instructing specific processing andinsertion of a specific document by the operating means

An example of applying a different image processing to one document froma plurality of documents (for example, to apply a color image processingto the one document whereas a monochrome image processing is applied tothe other documents) will be explained with reference to the flow chartof FIG. 34. In the case a different image processing is applied to apart of a plurality of documents, the image processing to be applied tothe part of the documents is referred to as a specific processingherein. Examples of the specific processing include the unnecessary areadeleting processing.

Step S1: As shown in FIG. 38(a), by selecting the specific processingmode from the operating means 103 of FIG. 1, and instructing theinformation, such as the number of the pages (see FIG. 38(b)) of thedocuments to be applied with the specific processing (specificdocuments), the specific processing (see FIG. 38(c)), and the insertionposition of the specific copy applied with the specific processing (seeFIG. 38(d)), the set value is stored in the setting value storing means104.

Step S2: The image of the specific document is read by the ADF means 101and the image reading means 102. The image processing control means 106sets the image processing based on the value stored in the setting valuestoring means 104. After conducting specific processing by the imageprocessing means 107 based on the setting, it is stored in the imagestoring means 110 via the image storage controlling means 109.

Steps S3 to S6: A plurality of standard documents are read by the ADFmeans 101 and the image reading means 102, applied with a predeterminedimage processing by the image processing means 107, and outputted fromthe outputting means 113 via the copy finishing means 112.

Step S4: At the preliminarily set insertion position of the specificdocument in the processing of the standard documents, the ADF means 101and the image reading means 102 are temporarily stopped.

Step S9: Information on the specific copy insertion is supplied from thesetting value storing means 104 to the copy finishing control means 111,and further, the specific copy insertion instruction is supplied fromthe copy finishing control means 111 to the copy finishing means 110.

Step S10: A specific document image stored beforehand in the imagestoring means 110 is read by the copy finishing means 112 via the imagestorage controlling means 109, and is outputted from the copy outputtingmeans 113 as a specific copy.

Steps S7 to S8: After the insertion operation of the specific copy, theADF means 101 and the image reading means 102 resume the operation torestart the continuous reading, image processing, output of the standarddocuments. Until the set documents are done, the steps S4 to S7 arerepeated.

Accordingly, by instructing the insertion position of a specific copyamong standard copies, the pages to be inserted, and the like, inadvance by the operating means 103, the specific processing of aspecific copy and the insertion instruction can be simplified.Conventional waste of applying to all the documents a specificprocessing such as the unnecessary area deleting processing required toa part of the documents can be omitted so that the operation time can beshortened as well as the copying operation can be conducted efficiently.Further, it is advantageous in terms of the user's convenience.

(21) Operation explanation D: instructing insertion of a specificdocument to be applied with a specific processing to the position wherea separation sheet is inserted

An example of applying a different image processing to one document froma plurality of documents (for example, to apply a color image processingto the one document whereas a monochrome image processing is applied tothe other documents) will be explained with reference to the flow chartof FIG. 36.

Step S11: As shown in FIG. 39(a), by selecting the insertion mode, whichis a specific copying mode, from the operating means 103 of FIG. 1, andinstructing the information, such as the number of the pages (see FIG.39(b)) of the documents to be applied with the specific processing(specific documents), and the specific processing (see FIG. 39(c)), theset value is stored in the setting value storing means 104.

Step S12: The image of the specific documents is read by the ADF means101 and the image reading means 102 in the insertion order. The imageprocessing control means 106 sets the image processing based on thevalue stored in the setting value storing means 104. After conductingspecific processing by the image processing means 107 based on thesetting, it is stored in the image storing means 110 via the imagestorage controlling means 109.

Steps S13 to S16: A separation sheet is inserted in a standard documentbundle as shown in FIG. 37, and the document bundle is set at apredetermined position of the ADF means 101 so that the plurality ofdocuments are read by the image reading means 102, applied with apredetermined image processing by the image processing means 107, andoutputted from the outputting means 113 via the copy finishing means112.

Steps S14, S19: When the separation sheet is recognized by theseparation sheet recognition means 105 in the processing of the standarddocuments, the information of the insertion position, and the like issupplied to the copy finishing control means 111, and further, theinsertion instruction of the specific copy is given from the copyfinishing control means 111 to the copy finishing means 110.

Step S20: A specific document image stored beforehand in the imagestoring means 110 is read by the copy finishing means 112 via the imagestorage controlling means 109, and is outputted from the copy outputtingmeans 113 as a specific copy.

Steps S17 to S18: After the insertion operation of the specific copy,the ADF means 101 and the image reading means 102 resume the operationto restart the continuous reading, image processing, output of thesubsequent documents set on the ADF means. Until the set documents aredone, the steps S14 to S17 are repeated.

Accordingly, by instructing the specific processing of the specific copyto be inserted in standard copies and instructing the insertion positionof the specific copy by the position of a inserted separation sheet, thespecific processing of a specific copying and the insertion instructioncan be simplified. Conventional labor in the insertion operation of aspecific copy, or waste of applying to all the documents a specificprocessing such as the unnecessary area deleting processing required toa part of the documents can be omitted so that the operation time can beshortened as well as the copying operation can be conducted efficiently.Further, it is advantageous in terms of the user's convenience.

(22) Operation explanation E: instructing a specific processing of aspecific document by a separation sheet inserted in documents

An example of applying a different image processing to one document froma plurality of documents set on the ADF (automatic document feeder)means 101 (for example, to apply a color image processing to the onedocument whereas a monochrome image processing is applied to the otherdocuments) will be explained with reference to the flow chart of FIG.40.

Step S31: A specific processing such as a color image processing, anunnecessary area deleting processing, and the like) and a separationsheet are matched by the operating means 103 of FIG. 1.

For example, a red separation sheet is matched to an image processingfor a photograph, and a blue separation sheet is matched to anunnecessary area deleting processing. The matching set here is stored,for example, in the recognition table provided in the separationinforming means 506 of the separation recognition means 105.

Steps S32 to S35: As shown in FIG. 41, a separation sheet is insertedbefore a specific document in a document bundle. The document bundle isset at a predetermined position of the ADF means 101 so that a pluralityof documents are read by the image reading means 2, applied with animage processing by the image processing means 7, and outputted from theoutputting means 13 via the copy finishing means 12.

Steps S33, S38 to S41: When the separation sheet is recognized by theseparation sheet recognition means 105 in the processing of standarddocuments, the specific information corresponding to the color is readfrom the recognition table, supplied to the setting value storing means104 and the image processing control means 106 for switching to theprocessing to be applied to the next specific document and parametersetting. Then the image of the specific document read by the imagereading means 102 is applied with a specific processing instructed bythe image processing means 107, and outputted from the outputting means113.

Steps S17 to S18: After the specific processing of the specific copy,the image processing control means 107 switch to the conventionalprocessing setting and parameter again for the standard copy finishing.The continuous reading, image processing, output of the subsequentdocuments set on the ADF means are continued. Until the set documentsare done, the steps S33 to S37 are repeated.

Accordingly, by matching a specific processing (such as a color imageprocessing, an unnecessary area deleting processing, and the like) and aseparation sheet and inserting a separation sheet corresponding to aspecific processing before a specific document in a document bundle bythe operating means 103, the instruction for the position of a specificdocument, and the specific processing for the specific copying can besimplified as well as labor of inserting a specific copy in a bundle ofstandard copies by the user can be omitted. Furthermore, a storagememory for temporarily storing the insertion processing of a specificcopy and an image applied with a specific processing becomesunnecessary. Moreover, in view of the fact that application of aspecific processing to all the documents decline the copying speed ifthe specific processing is a time-consuming one, a more efficientcopying operation can be achieved by adopting this method.

(23) Operation explanation F: instructing a specific processing by an IDapplied to a separation sheet inserted

An example of applying a different image processing to one document froma plurality of documents set on the ADF (automatic document feeder)means 101 (for example, to apply a color image processing to the onedocument whereas a monochrome image processing is applied to the otherdocuments) will be explained with reference to the flow chart of FIG.42.

Step S51: A combination of desired image processing is formed by theoperating means 103 of FIG. 1, and recognition information (ID) ismatched with the combination. Further, parameter for each processing inthe combination is set. The content of the setting is stored in thesetting value storing means 104 as, for example, a table shown in FIG.36.

As shown in FIG. 43, in the case one ID "1" is given to a combination ofa high pass filtering processing, a γ correction processing, and agradation processing, the parameter for each processing becomes thefilter coefficient, the necessity/unnecessity of a processing, and adither/error diffusion.

Steps S52 to S53: When the user selects an ID of a desired combinationfrom the combinations of processing indicated on the operating means 103and instruct the output of a separation sheet, the setting value storingmeans 104 develops the selected ID into a cyclic pattern as, forexample, shown in FIG. 44 and supplies it to the outputting means 113for printing on a predetermined paper so as to output a separationsheet.

Steps S32 to S37: The subsequent processing is substantially the same asFIG. 40, but differs in that the ID on the separation sheet is alsodetected by the separation recognition means when the separation sheetis recognized in the step S38, and the information of the detected ID issupplied to the setting value storing means 104.

The setting value storing means 104 supplies the combination ofprocessing corresponding to the ID, the processing parameter, and thelike to the image processing control means 6 based on the suppliedinformation on the ID, and the image processing control means 6 switchesto a processing to be applied to the next specific document and sets theparameter.

Accordingly, by applying an ID to a combination of desired imageprocessing, printing the ID on a separation sheet, and inserting theappropriate separation sheet before a specific document in a documentbundle, the instruction for the position of a specific document, and thespecific processing for the specific copying can be simplified as wellas labor of inserting a specific copy in a bundle of standard copies bythe user can be omitted. Furthermore, flexible setting of an imageprocessing as desired by the user can be achieved so that a labor forinserting a specific copy in a bundle of standard copies by the user canbe saved. Moreover, a storage memory for temporarily storing theinsertion processing of a specific copy and an image applied with aspecific processing becomes unnecessary. Further, in view of the factthat application of a specific processing to all the documents declinethe copying speed if the specific processing is a time-consuming one, amore efficient copying operation can be achieved by adopting thismethod.

Although the above-mentioned operation explanations A to F refer to anexample of one job, the cases of plural jobs will be explainedhereinafter. That is, in the case of finishing a plurality of copyingjobs, conventionally they cannot be implemented at the same time so thateach job needs to be conducted independently.

That is, the cases of finishing a plurality of jobs by one copyingoperation and sorting the copy outputs per each job will be explained inthe below-mentioned operation explanations G to I.

(24) Operation explanation G: instructing the number of copies from theoperating means and instructing the partition of jobs by a separationsheet

Procedure 1: The copying number information necessary for a plurality ofjobs are inputted from the operating means 103. For example, in the casethe first 20 sheets are the job 1, the next 30 sheets are the job 2, andthe remained 50 sheets are the job 3 out of 100 sheets, and 3 eachcopies are taken for each job, or 3 sets of the job 1, 5 sets of the job2, and 10 sets of the job 3 are necessary, the information of the numberof copies is inputted form the operating means 103. The inputted valueis stored in the setting value storing means 104.

Procedure 2: For partitioning the jobs, or instructing the start of thesubsequent job, separation sheets are inserted as shown in FIG. 45 andFIG. 46.

Procedure 3: An image of the document read by the ADF means 101 and theimage reading means 102 is image-processed by the image processing means107, outputted by the outputting means 113, and reading and output ofthe same document are repeated according to the job number informationgiven by the operating means 103 and the setting value storing means104.

The job sorting means 115 sorts the copies repeatedly outputted with thesorter.

Procedure 4: When the read image is recognized to be a separation sheetfor indicating the partition/start of a job during the above-mentionedcopying process by the separation sheet recognition means 105, the jobsorting control means 115 is informed of the recognition of thepartition/start of the job.

Procedure 5: The job sorting control means 115 controls the job sortingmeans 114 by the job partition/start information provided from theseparation sheet recognition means 105 for the final finishing of thejob (such as stapling), and starting the processing of the next jobbased on the copying number information provided form the operatingmeans 103 and the setting value storing mean 104. Similarly, the jobsorting means 114 continues sorting according to the instruction of thejob sorting control means 115 for all the jobs (see FIG. 47, FIG. 48).

Accordingly, by instructing the copying number for each job from theoperating means 103 and instructing the job partition/start by insertinga separation sheet in a document bundle, a batch copy processing ofplural jobs can be conducted easily with the ADF means 101 by giving asimple instruction.

(25) Operation explanation H: instructing the job partition and thenumber of copies for each job

Procedure 1: For example, in the case the first 20 sheets are the job 1,the next 30 sheets are the job 2, and the remained 50 sheets are the job3 out of 100 sheets, and 3 each copies are taken for each job, or 3 setsof the job 1, 5 sets of the job 2, and 10 sets of the job 3 arenecessary, start of each job is instructed by inserting a separationsheet at a position of starting each job. And the number of copies foreach job is instructed by, for example, a cyclic pattern code (ID)printed on the separation sheet as shown in FIG. 49, or by inserting anecessary number of separation sheets as shown in FIG. 50.

Procedure 2: An image of the document read by the ADF means 101 and theimage reading means 102 is image-processed by the image processing means107, and if the image inputted by the separation sheet recognition means5 is recognized to be a separation sheet for indicating the start of ajob, the information and the copy number information are provided to thejob sorting means 115 and the image inputting means 102.

Procedure 3: The image inputting means 102 repeats reading of the samedocument according to the copying number information. The job sortingcontrol means controls the job sorting means 114 by the job startinginformation and the copy number information provided from the separationsheet recognition means 105.

Accordingly, by applying the copying number information (application ofan ID representing the copying number, or insertion of separation sheetsof the number the same as the necessary copying number) to a separationsheet, and inserting the separation sheet into a document bundle forinstructing the start of each job and the copying number of each job, abatch copy processing of plural jobs can be conducted easily with theADF means 101 by giving a simple instruction.

(26) Operation explanation I: instructing the job partition and thenumber of copies for each job (the case of a copier comprising anelectronic sorter function)

Procedure 1: For example, in the case the first 20 sheets are the job 1,the next 30 sheets are the job 2, and the remained 50 sheets are the job3 out of 100 sheets, and 3 each copies are taken for each job, or 3 setsof the job 1, 5 sets of the job 2, and 10 sets of the job 3 arenecessary, start of each job is instructed by inserting a separationsheet at a position of starting each job. And the number of copies foreach job is instructed by, for example, a cyclic pattern code (ID)printed on the separation sheet as shown in FIG. 49, or by inserting anecessary number of separation sheets as shown in FIG. 50.

Procedure 2: An image of the document read by the ADF means 101 and theimage reading means 102 is image-processed by the image processing means107 to be stored in the image storing means 10 via the image storagecontrolling means 9.

Procedure 3: When the read image is recognized to be a separation sheetfor indicating the start of a job by the separation sheet recognitionmeans 105, the information and the copying number information areprovided to the job sorting control means 115 and the copy finishingcontrol means 111.

Procedure 4: The copy finishing control means 111 controls the copyfinishing means 112 according to the job start information and thecopying number information, and the copy finishing control means 112repeats reading of the same document according to the copying numberinformation from the image recording means 10 and outputs it by the copyoutputting means 13.

Procedure 5: The job sorting control means 115 controls the job sortingmeans 114 by the job start information and the copying numberinformation provided from the separation sheet recognition means 105,and the job sorting means 114 sorts the job accordingly (see FIG. 51,FIG. 52).

Accordingly, by applying the copying number information (application ofan ID representing the copying number, or insertion of separation sheetsof the number the same as the necessary copying number) to a separationsheet, and inserting the separation sheet into a document bundle forinstructing the start of each job and the copying number of each job, abatch copy processing of plural jobs can be conducted easily with theADF means 101 by giving a simple instruction.

Furthermore, since all the documents images, which are read and appliedwith a predetermined image processing are temporarily stored in theimage storing means 110, and the same document image is read repeatedlyfrom the image storing means 110 by the copy finishing means 112(electronic sorter function) for finally outputting according to thecopying number preliminarily instructed for each job, the mechanicalsorter equipment is not required so that the management of the sortingorder and the restraint of the noise generation caused by driving ascanner can be achieved.

(27) Operation explanation J: giving various kinds of instructions bythe paper size of a separation sheet

As already described in the explanation for the separation sheetrecognition means 105, it is also possible to use a paper having a sizedifferent from that of the document to be copied for the variousinstructions such as the insertion instruction.

For example, for a document having the A4 size, a paper of a differentsize, that is, B5, A3, or a non-standard size, or A4R is preliminarilyinstructed from the operating means 103 as the separation sheet forregistering it in the setting value storing means 104.

By using the paper having a size different from that of the document tobe copied, registered as mentioned above as the separation sheet, even astandard paper can be used as a separation sheet.

(28) Operation explanation K: giving various kinds of instructions bythe characteristic of a separation sheet

As already described in the explanation for the separation sheetrecognition means 105, it is also possible to use a paper or a mediumhaving a characteristic different from that of the document to be copiedfor the various instructions such as the insertion instruction, thespecific processing instruction, and the like.

For example, in the case of using a paper having a certain color is usedas the separation sheet, as explained with reference to FIG. 14 and FIG.15, the color characteristic and the instruction content arepreliminarily registered in the setting value storage means 104 via theoperating means 103.

For example, a red separation sheet is matched to an image processingfor a photograph, and a blue separation sheet is matched to anunnecessary area deleting processing so that a paper with the color isused as a separation sheet.

Accordingly, a detailed instruction can be given. A further detailedinstruction can be given by the combination of a paper size and a color.

(29) Operation explanation L: appointing an area in a document by aseparation sheet having a high transmissivity

The case of giving various kinds of instructions using a certaincharacteristic of the operator sheet is explained in the operationexplanation K, but it is also possible to use a medium having a hightransmissivity as a separation sheet. Accordingly, instruction can begiven not only per page but also for an appointed area in a document.For example, as shown in FIG. 53(a), (b), a medium having a hightransmissivity is placed on a document, and a necessary area is markedwith a marker with a characteristic to be used as a separation sheet. Acorresponding processing is inputted from the operating means 103. Withthe separation sheet placed immediately before the document, reading-isconducted by the ADF, and the like so that the separation recognitionmeans 105 recognizes the area in the separation sheet, informs it to theimage processing control means 106. The image processing control means106 conduct the processing instructed for the next document based on theinformation from the setting value storing means 104 and the separationsheet recognition means 105, then outputs it.

FIG. 46 shows an example of reproducing an image only in the area.

Accordingly, processing can be switched for each area in a documentselectively.

(30) Operation explanation M: instructing insertion/combination of datausing a separation sheet

The case of copying a plurality of document by the ADF means 101, andinserting, for example, data sent from the outside of the apparatus perpage or per area will be explained with reference to FIG. 54.

Procedure 1: Insertion mode is instructed by the operating means 103 ofFIG. 1.

Procedure 2: Data sent from the outside are stored in the image storingmeans 110 via the image storage controlling means 109.

Procedure 3: As described in the operation explanation L, a separationsheet having a high transmissivity is placed on a document, and aninsertion area is appointed with a predetermined marker pen.

Procedure 4: With the separation sheet is placed immediately before thedocument, a plurality of documents are read continuously by the ADFmeans 101 and the image reading means 102, image-processed by the imageprocessing means 107, and outputted form the outputting means 113through the copy finishing means 112.

Procedure 5: When the separation sheet is recognized by the separationsheet recognition means 105, further, the size of the insertion area,and the like are recognized, and the information is advised to the imageprocessing means 107 and the copy finishing control means 111. When thenext document is read, corresponding data to be inserted are suppliedfrom the image storing means 110 to the image processing means 107 viathe image storage controlling means 109 at the same time.

The insertion data, which are optionally enlarged or reduced in theimage area of the document appointed by the separation sheet in theimage processing means, are combined and outputted from the outputtingmeans 113.

Procedure 6: After finishing the insertion operation of the insertiondata to the appointed area, the next document is read by the ADF means101 and the image reading means 102 again, and a standard finishing isapplied.

Accordingly, by using a separation sheet having a transmissivity higherthan a standard paper, an area for inserting other data in the imageread from the document or images can be appointed easily, and thuscombination of desired data or images can be conducted during the copyprocessing of a plurality o documents easily at the same time.

(31) Operation explanation N: discharge of a document and a separationsheet

A method of discharging a separation sheet and a document separately bythe ADF means 101 will be explained.

As explained with reference to FIG. 2, a document is fed out from thedocument placing table 12 by the conveyance belt 88 so as to bedischarged to a document discharging portion 94 on the upper surface ofthe ADF 80 via the reversing roller 90, the flapper 91, and the paperdischarging roller 92.

By controlling the rotation of the paper discharging roller, and a brakecorresponding thereto, the discharging position can be controlled. Forexample, in the case of discharging a separation sheet, it can bedischarged more strongly by accelerating the rotation speed of therollers, or by alleviating the brake so that it is discharged to aposition ahead in the discharging direction compared with the case ofdischarging a standard document. Accordingly, a separation sheet and adocument can be discharged to different positions on the upper surfaceof the ADF 80.

Further, as shown in FIG. 55, a flapper 2001 and a separation sheetpaper discharging tray 2002 are provided with the paper dischargingroute designed such that the flapper 2002 faces downward so as todischarge a document onto the upper surface of the ADF 80. Fordischarging the separation sheet, the paper discharging route is setsuch that the flapper 2001 is switched to the upward direction as shownin FIG. 55 so a to discharge a separation sheet onto the tray 2002.

(32) Operation explanation O: registration of a separation sheet

As mentioned above, a paper with a certain color or size can beregistered as a separation sheet from the operating means 103, it isalso possible to register a paper of a color or a size preferable forthe user can be registered as the separation sheet.

Characteristic information such as a size, and the like is read from theseparation sheet by a sensor in the image reading means 102 of FIG. 1,and judging information for judging it as a separation sheet isregistered to the setting value storing means 104. The paper or a mediumaccordingly registered is used for recognizing a separation sheet by theseparation sheet recognizing means 105 during the next copy processing.

For example, a separation sheet registering item is selected by theoperating means 103. A paper to be registered as the separation sheet isfed onto the document table of the image reading means 102 by the ADFmeans 101 so that the width and length information of the paper ismeasured by the size detecting means explained with reference to FIGS. 7to 11 for registering it as the separation sheet. Furthermore, theinstruction content (insertion instruction, specific instruction, andthe like) for the copier corresponding to the separation sheet can alsobe registered by the operating means 103.

Similarly, if a paper of a certain color can be registered in thesetting value storing means 104 as a separation sheet using a colordetecting means explained with reference to FIG. 14 and FIG. 15, a hightransmissivity medium of FIG. 16 and FIG. 17 can be registered as aseparation sheet.

Accordingly, not only one with a preferable characteristic can beregistered as a separation sheet by the user, but also irregularity ofthe input system or a sensor can be absorbed to some extent so that aseparation sheet can be recognized further accurately in the actualcopying processing.

(33) Processing operation P: processing content detail output

After finishing copying processing of one job, if an instruction isgiven from the operation means 103 as the request from the user, thedetails of the processing content of the job can be read from thesetting value storing means 104 for providing to the user.

For example, the set value read from the setting value storing means 104is bit-developed by the internal microcomputer to be outputted as shownin FIG. 56.

The content of the detailed information accordingly outputted is readform the image reading means 102 of FIG. 1 to be stored in the imagefiling means 117 of FIG. 1.

The content of the sheet of the detailed information stored in the imagefiling means 117 can be used at the time of finishing another job.

For example, if a sheet of detailed information stored in the imagefiling means 117 is selected by the operating means 103 at the time ofstarting a job, the content of the sheet of the selected detailedinformation is read from the image filing means 117 via the image filecontrolling means 116 and the image storage controlling means 109 to bestored in the image storing means 110. With the job started, the copyfinishing means 112 reads the content of the sheet of the selecteddetailed information from the image storing means 110, conducts apredetermined setting for the copy finishing based on the content, andoutputs it form the outputting means 113.

Unless a sheet of another detailed information stored in the imagefiling means 117 is newly selected, the setting the same as the previousjob is applied in conducting the next job so that the same finishing canbe conducted by only reading the document once more.

(34) Operation explanation Q: error output

If, for example, a setting error occurs while conducting one job, thedetailed setting of the job can be read from the setting value storingmeans 104 to be bit-developed by the internal microcomputer. Andfurther, the error can be analyzed with various sensors and judgments tobe classified per page where an error is generated as shown in FIG. 57.The phenomenon, cause, and the like of the error can be indicated on theoperating means 103, or printed on a predetermined paper (as theprocessing detail recording paper) to be outputted from the outputtingmeans 113.

By referring to such an error message, the user can cope with thegenerated error easily.

As a cause of generating an error, for example,

Extreme setting of parameter (always having an output of white, or blackregardless of the input image change)

Running out of the paper of the required size

Erasure of the required image information file from the files

can be considered.

For example, if only one from a job is for the A3 output and the othersare for the A4 output, and the A3 paper is run out, the information isoutputted as an error.

(35) Operation explanation R: test printing

In finishing many number of copying, it is convenient if a test printingfunction is provided. Herein, the test printing processing procedure isexplained herein.

Procedure 1: A predetermined instruction for the test printing is givenfrom the operating means 103. A predetermined setting is conducted tothe separation sheet recognition means 105 via the setting value storingmeans 104.

Procedure 2: Documents are read by the ADF means 101 and the imagereading means 102, and separation sheets and the documents aredischarged separately.

Procedure 3: A test printing is conducted, and at the same time, thedetailed information of the job stored in the setting value storingmeans 104 is printed on a predetermined paper as shown in FIG. 56, andoutputted from the outputting means 113.

Procedure 4: By observing the test printing, the user applies apredetermined mark to a corresponding portion to be corrected, if any,on the detailed information of the job printed on the outputted paper.

Procedure 5: The marked paper and a separation sheet for instructing thecorresponding correction are read from the image reading means 102 (orsetting by the operating means 103 is conducted). After changing thesetting corresponding to the instructed part to be corrected, copy isconducted for the necessary number.

Accordingly, resources such as papers can be saved as well as thesetting of a desired copying environment can be conducted easily.

(36) Operation explanation S: job skip at the time of error generation,and information of the error portion by a separation sheet

If, for example, a setting error occurs while conducting one job, theconducted job and the document output can be skipped by inserting aseparation sheet to the corresponding output part so that the contentcan be informed to the user by the processing detail recording paper orby the indication after finishing the job.

As a cause of generating an error,

Extreme setting of parameter (always having an output of white, or blackregardless of the input image change)

Running out of the paper of the required size

Erasure of the required image information file from the files

can be considered.

For example, if only one from a job is for the A3 output and the othersare for the A4 output, and the A3 paper is run out, a separation sheetis inserted to the position and the next document or job is conducted.

After the processing, the above-mentioned processing detail recordingpaper is outputted from the outputting means 113 based on theinformation stored in the setting value storing means 104.

As a separation sheet, a separation sheet can be set in one paper tray,or a paper different from the document to be copied can be inserted. Forexample, in this case, only one document is A3 and the others are A4,and the A3 paper is run out so that a paper larger than the A4 size,that is, B4, or A4R can be used.

Accordingly, in the case an error is generated while conducting a job,by inserting and outputting a separation sheet having an error messageprinted thereon, the job can be conducted without interruption even whenan error occurs. Further, since the error portion can be found easily,the user only needs to conduct the copy finishing for the document withthe error.

(37) Operation explanation T: error handling measure using an imagestorage memory

If, for example, a setting error occurs while conducting one job, animage of documents with a normal arrangement is stored in the imagestoring means 110 without outputting the copy of document of the job,and after finishing the job, the content of the error is informed to theuser by the processing detail recording paper or the indication.

As a cause of generating an error, the above-mentioned various factorscan be considered.

The user copes with the generated error based on the informed errormessage. This can be done either after finishing the job, or byinterruption.

When the user corrects the error setting and input the document by theimage reading means 102 again, the image processing control means 106controls the image processing means 107 based on the new setting. Theimage processing means 107 proceeds the processing according to theinstruction. The copy finishing means 112 inserts the image to thecorresponding position in the other preliminarily stored processeddocuments, and outputs them.

Accordingly, particularly in outputting plural sets of copies, anefficient copy finishing without waste can be achieved.

(38) Operation explanation U: error handling measure using an imagedelay memory/image storing memory

If, for example, a setting error occurs while conducting one job, animage of documents with a normal arrangement is stored in the imagestoring means 110 without outputting the copy of document of the job,and only the image of the document with the error is stored in the imagedelay means 108 as the scan (raw) image data without applying the imageprocessing, then the content thereof is informed to the user by thescreen indication or the paper output.

After finishing the job, the content of the generated error is advisedby the user by the processing detail recording paper or the indication.

As a cause of generating an error, the above-mentioned various factorscan be considered.

The user copes with the generated error based on the informed errormessage. This can be done either after finishing the job, or byinterruption.

When the user corrects the error setting again, the image processingcontrol means 106 controls the image processing means 107 based on thenew setting. The image processing means 107 reads the image with theerror from the image delay means 108, and conducts the processingaccording to the instruction by the image controlling means 106. Thecopy finishing means 112 inserts the image to the corresponding positionin the other preliminarily stored processed documents, and outputs them.

Accordingly, particularly in outputting plural sets of copies, anefficient copy finishing without waste can be achieved. Further, thecopy finishing can be conducted easily by only re-setting for thedocument with the error.

(39) Operation explanation V: error handling measure using a buzzer, ora separation sheet

If, for example, a setting error occurs while conducting one job, thejob can be temporarily stopped so that the generation of the error canbe informed to the user by operating a buzzer provided in the operatingmeans 101. At the time, the reason of the error setting, and the likeare indicated on the screen of the operating means 103 or by the paperoutput. In the case the user does not respond to it within apredetermined time, the job is skipped by inserting a separation sheetto the corresponding output part so that the generation of the error canbe informed, and conduct the next job.

Accordingly, since the generated error can be dealt with on the spot inthe case the user is beside the apparatus, the burden of the user can bealleviated so that the finishing can be conducted smoothly. And further,since the next job can be conducted in a predetermined time, it isadvantageous in that another user does not have to wait for a long time.

(40) Operation explanation W: measure for discharging a separation sheetand a document at the time of the error generation

In the operation explanation N, separate discharging of the documentsand the separation sheets by the ADF means 101 in giving variousinstructions with a separation sheet, such as the position of a specificdocument in a document bundle, insertion of a specific copy, andsorting. On the other hand, when an error is generated, by skipping thejob and discharging the separation sheet to a document tray, anddischarging the document to another tray, the error document can beappointed easily. By re-setting only for the error document dischargedon another tray, and optionally re-inputting the document, the copy canbe finished.

(41) Operation explanation X: instructing a test printing with aseparation sheet, a test printing of only a specific document

In finishing many number of copying, it is convenient if a test printingfunction is provided. However, if there are many documents to betest-printed, a long time is necessary for the test printing of the allthe documents, and also a long time and considerable labor are neededfor checking the outputted test printing.

Therefore, with a separation sheet inserted before the document to betest-printed, the document bundle is read by the ADF means 101 and theimage reading means 102, applied with an necessary image processing bythe image processing means 107, and temporarily stored in the imagestoring means 110.

If the image read by the separation sheet recognition means 5 isrecognized to be a separation sheet, a test printing is conducted by theoutputting means 113 while storing the subsequent document or job in theimage storing means 110.

After checking the test printing by the user, the image of all thedocuments are read from the image storing means 110 by the copyfinishing means 112 and outputted for the needed sets in the case resetis not required.

Accordingly, for example, a test printing of only a specific documentcan be conducted.

Furthermore, it is also possible to conduct a test printing of only adocument of a high complexity (for example, processing a plurality ofdocuments for one copy (such as many in one)) based on the complexity ofthe document detected by the auto recognition means 119 of FIG. 1.

In this case, the document is read by the ADF means 101 and the imagereading means 102, applied with the necessary image processing by theimage processing means 107, and temporarily stored in the image storingmeans 10. An image of a document with a complicated combinationprocessing by a separation sheet, or a document or a job judged to be ofa high complexity by the auto recognition means 119 is stored in theimage storing means 110 so as to conduct the test printing by theoutputting means 113. After checking the test printing by the user, theimage of all the documents are read from the image storing means 10 bythe copy finishing means 12 and outputted for the needed sets in thecase reset is not required.

At the time, if the user's setting and the detection by the autorecognition means 119 are extremely different, processing can beconducted in both user's setting and internal auto recognition setting.The test printing thereof, processing details, and a warning areoutputted or indicated so that the user can select one therefrom.

As heretofore explained, according to the present invention, theinstruction of the copy processing desired by the user, and therecognition processing of the instruction content can be simplified toimprove the convenience for the user. Furthermore, the cost reductionand the acceleration of the processing speed can be achieved to improvethe productivity.

Additional advantages and modifications will readily occur to thoseskilled in the art. Therefore, the invention in its broader aspects isnot limited to the specific details and representative embodiments shownand described herein. Accordingly, various modifications may be madewithout departing from the spirit or scope of the general inventiveconcept as defined by the appended claims and their equivalent.

What is claimed is:
 1. An image forming apparatus comprising:means formaking a setting for recognizing a separation sheet upon receipt of aforming instruction of an image and a test printing instruction; firstreading means for reading an image on an original by use of an ADF andan image reading section, and discharging the separation sheet and theoriginal separately; outputting means for testing for printing on thebasis of the read image and, printing on an instruction sheet detailedinformation on a job for which the setting is made by the setting means,so as to output the instruction sheet along with a test copy; secondreading means for, when a user has determined that there is a correctionnecessary to be made to the test copy and placed a predetermined mark ata position corresponding to the correction on the instruction sheetoutput with the detail information thereon by the outputting means,reading the instruction sheet; third reading means for reading aseparation sheet inserted to indicate the correction in accordance withthe instruction sheet read by the second reading means; and means for,after adjusting the setting of the setting means on the basis of theinstruction sheet read by the second reading means and the separationsheet read by the third reading means, performing image formation bymaking a necessary number of copies on the basis of the image read bythe first reading means.
 2. An image forming apparatus comprising:meansfor, upon receipt of image information and a forming instruction of animage, testing for image forming in accordance with part of the forminginstruction and outputting the formed image; means for reading aninstruction sheet which gives an instruction for a necessary correctionto be made to the formed image that has been output from the test means;and means for adjusting, in accordance with the instruction read by thereading means, a setting that has been made on the basis of the forminginstruction, and forming the image by use of the image information onthe basis of the adjusted setting; wherein the reading means includesmeans for preliminarily registering a size of the instruction sheet; andmeans for recognizing the instruction sheet from a group of documentsand the instruction sheet based on a size registered by the registeringmeans.
 3. An image forming apparatus according to claim 2, wherein thereading means includesmeans for recognizing the instruction sheet fromthe group of documents and the instruction sheet based on a papercharacteristic registered by the registering means.
 4. An image formingapparatus according to claim 1, wherein the second reading meansincludesmeans for preliminarily registering a size of the instructionsheet; and means for recognizing the instruction sheet from a group ofdocuments and the instruction sheet based on a size registered by theregistering means.
 5. An image forming apparatus according to claim 1,wherein the second reading means includesmeans for preliminarilyregistering a size of the instruction sheet; and means for recognizingthe instruction sheet from a group of documents and the instructionsheet based on a paper characteristic registered by the registeringmeans.
 6. An image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein thesecond reading means includesmeans for reading a pattern and processinga certain area based thereon when the instruction sheet is of a hightransmissivity having the pattern for appointing the certain area.
 7. Animage forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the second readingmeans includesmeans for reading an image of the instruction sheet; andmeans for reading a pattern and processing an image of the instructionsheet according to a certain area when the instruction sheet is of ahigh transmissivity having the pattern for appointing the certain area.8. An image forming apparatus comprising:means for reading aninstruction sheet including a content of a process to be executed; meansfor forming an image in accordance with the content of the process readby the reading means; and means for outputting a sheet indicating anerror to an output position indicated by the instruction sheet when theprocess whose content has been read by the reading means is notexecutable; wherein the reading means includes means for preliminarilyregistering a size of the instruction sheet; and means for recognizingthe instruction sheet from a group of documents and the instructionsheet based on a size registered by the registering means.
 9. An imageforming apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the reading meansincludesmeans for recognizing the instruction sheet from the group ofdocuments and the instruction sheet based on a size registered by theregistering means.